'59 Interior Door handle

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Need help removing the interior door handles on a ’59 Fleetwood. The shop manual only describes the process for a Series 62, which has a different style armrest. This car has the ‘60s style curved lift handle that attaches to a splined shaft inside the armrest. I’ve removed the escutcheons and ash tray around the handle, but can’t even see the screw or bolt holding the handle on the shaft.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Ralph

[Jeff Wilk]

Ralph, I just completely removed and reinstalled the entire interior on my 59 Fleetwood here in NJ.  The only way to actually remove the door handles is to do what you did, but to continue and then remove the full door panel.  Then, the single center screw that holds on the handle will be exposed.  You've done the hard work, just a little to go.  let me know if you need any more details.  i'm actually removing it all again to now install a new headliner and work on window regulators.

Jeff

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Lou & Jeff,

Thanks for the replies. I’m being very cautious because this is not my car, so I’m following the philosophy “First do no harm”.

I should have been a bit clearer in my description. I removed the escutcheon around the door handle and took out the ash receptacle. Lou, the pics are great for this explanation. There’s no opening in the trim panel cardboard to slip the handle through. The handle attaches to the shaft directly below the left side of ash tray cover in Lou’s pic. I did not remove the chrome frame around the ash tray cover. The ash tray cover appears to be secured from the back of the trim panel cardboard so I assume the handle must be removed first. I can’t see the head on whatever type of screw is holding the handle on.

Jeff, if I understood your description correctly you loosened the whole trim panel to gain better access that screw head. Is the screw holding the handle a hex, Phillips or slotted head ? 

This appears to be the same basic construction as the ’66 handles and panels. I’ve made special tools for my ’66 and it’s still difficult to get at some of the screws. I would love to know how this was done on the assembly line.

Thanks,
Ralph

[Jeff Wilk]

Ralph, im not sure if you are local to me here in NJ (Monmouth County) but if so would be open to you taking a look at mine as it is once again apart.  But in short the screw holding the handle is a phillips head, and you do need to remove the chrome handle surround and then at least loosen up the bottom 2/3 of the door panel to get to it.  An offset screwdriver could make it possible I guess to do this without removing the panel. 

Jeff

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Jeff,

Thanks for responding. That's just what I needed to know. Hopefully I'll get to try it tomorrow and  let you know how I make out.

Ralph

[David Greenburg]

Even with an offset phllips screwdriver, which might let you get access to the screw, I don't think there would be enough clearance to between the end of the handle and the door panel to get the screw out and slide the handle off.  If you don't remove the door panel, I think you would at least need to loosen most of the door panel fasteners so you could swing the panel away from the door to get enough clearance.  But if you're going to do all that, you've already done most of the work to remove the panel.

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my question.  It’s easy when someone tells ya how.

There is a cut out in the trim panel cardboard. However, this is an original and appears that this door has never been off. What I thought was more trim panel structural board around the door handle was actually a tan waterproof barrier that looks like cardboard. As soon as I loosened the edges of the panel the opening was apparent. I learn something new every day…….. So far that’s what I learned today.


Thanks,
Ralph